Arthur Montague Frank Palmer (4 August 1912 – 14 August 1994) was a British Labour Co-operative politician.
Early life
Palmer was born in Northam, Devon and educated at Ashford County Grammar School and Acton Technical College. He became a chartered electrical engineer and joined the head office staff of the Electrical Power Engineers' Association, editing the Electrical Power Engineer magazine. During World War II and the London Blitz he was an engineer at Battersea Power Station. He served as a councillor on Brentford and Chiswick Borough Council 1937-1945 and later as a conservator of Wimbledon and Putney Commons.
Parliamentary career
Palmer was elected Member of Parliament for Wimbledon in 1945, becoming the first Labour MP for the constituency. He lost in Merton and Morden in 1950 and 1951, but re-entered Parliament, representing Cleveland from a 1952 by-election to 1959, Bristol Central from 1964–February 1974, and Bristol North East from February 1974 to 1983.
Palmer was Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee from 1965 to 1968, and Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology from 1966 to 1970 and 1974 to 1979.
Family
In 1939, Palmer married Marion Woollaston with whom he had two daughters, Professor Sarah Palmer (born 1943) and Julia King (born 1945).
References
- Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1951, 1966 & 1979
- Tam Dalyell (26 August 1994). "Obituary: Arthur Palmer". The Independent. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Arthur Palmer
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Power | Member of Parliament for Wimbledon 1945 – 1950 | Succeeded by Cyril Black |
| Preceded by Octavius George Willey | Member of Parliament for Cleveland 1952 – 1959 | Succeeded by Wilfred Proudfoot |
| Preceded by Stan Awbery | Member of Parliament for Bristol Central 1964 – Feb 1974 | Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by Robert Adley | Member of Parliament for Bristol North East Feb 1974 – 1983 | Constituency abolished |
| Trade union offices | ||
| Preceded by Laurence Welsh | President of the National Federation of Professional Workers 1964–1966 | Succeeded by John Dryden |